Welcome

A process is now in place for reviewing and evolving Scotland’s Curriculum. This is called the Curriculum Improvement Cycle.   

We are still at an early stage of the planning process and recognise that reviewing and evolving the curriculum takes time. We are committed to keeping you updated on the progress being made as well as giving a clear idea of what you can expect.

If you are interested to learn more you can find about the story so far in the About page. If you want to dive a bit deeper, you will find links to a variety of publications in the Useful Reading page.

Sign up to the Curriculum Improvement Cycle termly news bulletin for all the latest. Sign up here.

The Story so Far  

We have published a series of three Curriculum Improvement Cycle discussion papers. The papers talk through the background work around the curriculum improvement cycle and share the evidence that we need, to show we are moving forward in the right direction.

Paper one is called Background and A Case For Change : Findings from the Pilot Curriculum Reviews 2023/24 . This was published in November 2024. This paper explains why we are doing this work and talks about the pilot curriculum reviews. These pilot reviews were really informative and this paper shares everything that we learned. It also talks about evolving the technical framework and aims to inspire thinking.

Paper two was published in December 2024 and is called ‘Towards an Evolved Technical Framework.’ This paper draws on the finding from the pilot curriculum reviews and other evidence to explain what the options might be to evolve the Technical Framework of Scotland’s Curriculum.

Paper three published in April 2025 and is called ‘Working Together to Make Change Happen’. This paper provides an overview of the development of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle to date and shares what is currently in scope. It also outlines the practices, processes and approaches that are being used, considers what is needed to build capacity to support any emerging changes, and identifies the interdependencies.

Language Matters! As work progresses with the Curriculum Improvement Cycle it is important that we all have a clear understanding of what is meant when we use certain terms.

We have developed a dedicated page on terminology to help strengthen a shared understanding when we talk about the Curriculum Improvement Cycle. The list of terms has a direct relevance for where the Curriculum Improvement Cycle work is now and you will start to see these definitions being used in our work. We will add to the glossary on a regular basis and draw on existing sources and definitions where these are available.

You can also find out more in our Language Matters paper, published in December 2024.

A Quick Round Up

Here’s a quick round up of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle story so far. You can choose to read, watch or listen. Stuck for time? We’ve got you covered:

If you only have five minutes:

• A quick two minute overview video explaining the Curriculum Improvement Cycle model
• This ‘5 minute read’ LinkedIn article explains why we are reviewing and evolving Scotland’s curriculum

If you have half an hour:

• Read the first two issues of the Curriculum Improvement news bulletin
• Read the Language Matters paper and familiarise yourself with the glossary of key terms
• Listen to Gillian Hamilton in conversation with Ollie Bray – an overview of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle
• Listen to Ollie Bray in conversation with Andy Creamer part 1 – The background and case for change
• Listen to Ollie Bray in conversation with Andy Creamer part 2 – Towards an evolved technical framework

If you have an hour or more:

• Watch the recently recorded webinar series which gives an introduction to the work, the background and case for change and finishes with how we might move towards an evolved technical framework. There are three videos and each of them lasts around 45 minutes.
• Read the three discussion papers:
  • Paper 1: The background and a case for change: Findings of the pilot curriculum reviews
  • Paper 2: Towards an evolved technical framework.
  • Paper 3: ‘Working Together to Make Change Happen’

Stay Informed

Sign up to the Curriculum Improvement Cycle termly News Bulletin for all the latest news and information. Sign up here.